The Conshohocken Police Department has trouble communicating with police from neighboring Whitemarsh and Plymouth townships because of outdated radios that were purchased in 1987, Orler said. The new digital radios will solve that problem and be compatible with the new police radios purchased by other Montgomery County communities, he added.

Montgomery County officials negotiated the costs of the police radios for townships and boroughs that are participating in the police radio program.

“The county is going to move forward purchasing the Montgomery County radios in January 2014,” said Conshohocken Police Sgt. David Lennon. “We would like to make this purchase now.”

Conshohocken Borough Manager Francis Marabella said the funding would come from the capital reserve budget.

Council President Paul McConnell asked Lennon what gave him confidence in Montgomery County’s radio plan.

“The county’s issue was deciding on an end-user radio and what towers would be updated,” Lennon said. “They had too many consultants weighing in on the decisions. There are really not a lot of options for the townships to decide on. They have decided on the two models of radio that we will purchase.”

Councilman Raj Gupta said the finance committee recommended approving the radio purchase.

Orler asked council for permission to apply for a K-9 grant to pay for a dog for bomb detection. Solicitor Michael Savona said that a K-9 program came with a large number of liability issues for the borough.

Council unanimously gave permission for the grant application.

Council also approved a $96,280 contract with JMC Construction for the 2013 storm sewer maintenance project.